Jake Kirby is discovering that perseverance really does pay off as he enjoys a run a regular first-team starts with Tranmere Rovers FC.

The versatile 19-year-old had to wait his chance through much of last season, while fellow graduates from Rovers’ youth set-up such as Max Power and Cole Stockton pushed their way into the senior side.

All that changed last month when Kirby found his name in manager Ronnie Moore’s team for the difficult away trip to Bradford City.

Tranmere won 1-0 and Kirby’s name has been among the first XI on the team-sheet ever since.

Moore praised Kirby’s pace and energy in wide midfield roles as Tranmere took eight points from five games and then progressed into the second round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win at Accrington Stanley last weekend.

Kirby said: “I’m very happy to have got this chance to go out and prove myself. I hope I can stay in the team and keep on playing.

“I’ve had to be patient, to keep working hard. Lots of people were telling me that if I was patient, my chance would come. Hopefully now I will be able to take it.

“I’d sensed I was moving closer to getting into the first team this season and then I got an injury to my ankle. I did a couple of tendons and was out for four weeks.”

Team-mates did not allow the youngster from Liverpool to become downhearted.

Kirby said: “I have had a lot of encouragement from the rest of the lads to keep working and keep pushing.”

Tranmere are able to rotate Kirby between right and left wide midfield positions – he also likes to play in the hole just behind the striker.

Kirby said: “I have played a lot of positions with this club. In my first start I began the match in right midfield and finished at left back.”

Kirby is in line to make his 16th senior appearance, and the ninth of the season, in Tranmere’s League One encounter with Bristol City at Prenton Park on Saturday.